Fire-escape



(No ModeL) G. A. GLAPP.

FIRE ESCAPE. No. 283,755. Patented Aug. 28, 1883.

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PATENT GEORGE A. CLAPP, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 283,755, dated August 28, 1883,

Application filed May), 1883. (N0 model.) i

T0 at whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. OLAPP, of Quincy, county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Fire- Escapes, of which the following description,

with a series of rungs pivoted at one end upon the side of the building, or a suitableframework connected therewith, of a series of braces for the said rungs, also pivoted upon the building, and adapted to fold by the side of the'said rungs when the apparatus is not in use, but to extend diagonally to the ends thereof remote from the buildings when the said rungs are in their horizontal position forming the ladder, the braces thus forming an independent support for each rung or foot-piece. A suitable rope or chain is provided by which the said ladder may be folded or drawn up to the position parallel to the walls of the building, and the said rungs are connected at their free ends with a shield by which they are completely covered and protected when thus folded.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fire-escape embodying this invention, the ladder being in position for use; Fig. 2, a similar elevation, showing the apparatus as partly moved toward its folded position; and Fig. 3 shows one of the foot-pieces separately. 7

The apparatus consists, essentially, of a series of rungs or foot-pieces, a,- pivoted at 2 upon the wall A of a building in proper position to be easily reached from the windows,

the said rungs being provided with projections b at their outer ends. A series of braces, c,

are pivoted at 3, below the pivotal points of the corresponding rungs, and are provided at their free ends with eyes (I, embracing the rungs a, and adapted to slide longitudinally thereon, the said eyes engaging the projections b when the rungs are in their horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1, and thus forming a I support for each of the said rungs independently. The said rungs are preferably conthem to be operated simultaneously in the pro cess of folding up at the sides of the building, or being turned to the horizontal position, they being shown in this instance as connected by upper rung of the series, and then passing down the wall A of the building to any desired point from which the apparatus is to be operated. The free or outer ends of the rungs shield or cover, m, forming the front of an inclosing-case for the apparatus when folded up, and assisting in steadying the ladder when the rungs are in horizontal position. (Shown in Fig. l.)

The apparatus is either inclosed in a recess in the wall of the building, or the latter is provided with projecting pieces a, forming the sides of the inclosingcase or'housing, which ratus is folded up.

It will be seen that the chain f and shield at are not absolutely essential to the apparatus, as each rung is supported independently by and shield do not necessarily add anything to the support of the apparatus.

The rear ends of the foot-pieces (see Fig. 3) are forked or made double, and each end the said foot-piece cannot twist or turn over about its longitudinal center.

I claim- 1. In a fire-escape, the combination of a sebuilding, with a series of corresponding braces, also pivoted upon the building, the said rungs and braces being adapted to fold substantially parallel with the sides of the building, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A series of rungs pivoted at one end upon the building, and provided at their other end with a projection, combined with a series of corresponding braces pivoted at one end said rungs at their other end, and adapted to engagethe projections thereof and support the said rungs when in a horizontal position, sub stantially as described.

nected together at their outer ends to enable 5 5 a chain, f, passing over a pulley, 71, above the also preferably have connected therewith a is completed by the shield m when the appaits corresponding brace, and the said chain thereof engages a suitable eye-piece, 2, so that ries of rungs or footpieces pivoted upon the upon the building, and connected with the 3. The combination,with the series of rungs I braces c, co-operating therewith, both pivoted and their corresponding braces pivoted upon I upon the building, with the shield m, connectthe building, of the operating-chain by which n all the said rungs and braces may be moved chain, substantially as described.

5 simultaneously, substantially as and for the In testimony whereof I havesigned my name purpose set forth. to this specification in the presence of two sub- 4. The combination of the rungs A, and corscribing witnesses.

responding braces, 0, pivoted upon the building, as described, with the shield m, connected 1 GEORGE 'GLAPP' IO with the outer ends of the said rungs, subs'tan- WVitnesses:

tially as and for the purpose set forth. BERNICE J. NoYEs,

5. The combination of the rungs A and W. H. SIGsToN.

ed with the said rungs, and their operating- 1 5 

